Blinding: Linking Evidence to Practice.

Abstract

What about blinding makes it so important that it becomes a stamp of superiority on a clinical trial? Blinding isn't a part of clinical practice, as it plays no role in day-to-day treatment of patients. So why should it concern us so much when it comes to research? Blinding is one of those issues that is more complex than at first glance, and even more so in the context of the sorts of trials relevant to physical therapists. Trials in which participants, therapists, and/or assessors are not blinded are at risk of bias, but that is not the end of the story. The magnitude of the risk also depends on the types of interventions and the nature of the outcomes. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2018;48(10):825-826. doi:10.2519/jospt.2018.0705.